DESCRIPTION
-
Pacific Halibut are recognized by their
elongate, slender, compressed bodies.
The mouth is large and has well developed
teeth on both sides of the jaws. The pacific
halibut is dark brown on its eyed side
and irregularly blotched with a lighter
white on its blind side. The maximum length
of the male is 4 feet 7 inches; the female,
8 feet 9 inches.
DISTRIBUTION
- The Pacific Halibut is very abundant
along the Pacific shores of Canada and
ranges from Southern California to the
Bering Sea, occurring from very shallow
waters to up to 600 fathoms.
BIOLOGY
- Spawning of Pacific Halibut takes place
from November to January in depths of
150 to 225 fathoms. A large female of
140 pounds may lay as many as 2,700,000
eggs which will drift into shallower waters
where the young fish will settle in bays
and inshore banks. The main food consists
of fish, crabs, clams, squids and other
invertebrates.
RELATION
TO MAN - The halibut is one of the
most important commercial fishes in British
Columbia. Bait includes frozen herring,
Pacific cod and octopus. Pacific Halibut
livers and viscera are used in the production
of vitamin A.
